The 1970s was a period of freedom and experimentation. Very small bags of about 6 inches in diameter have been traditionally used as part of children's throwing games. They are very popular with all age groups; but particularly so with children and teenagers. Bean bags made a comeback in the late 1990s and have been going strong ever since.

It must be said however, that they were not the most comfortable piece of furniture and soon fell out of favour. It was also the era in which the bean bag as a piece of furniture item became popular. But things have moved on since then. They come in a variety of sizes. Bean bags can be made from a variety of materials and are usually filled with polystyrene.

They usually have robust stitching to prevent the filling from escaping when the bags are being subjected to robust use. This is not surprising given the great variety of materials being used today and the choices in styles that are available.

They were seen as must have items by those who considered themselves to be 'cool' and 'hip' during the 70s.